BY NATASHA JEE & TANIA LAM
KUCHING: Effective Jan 1 next year, the Sarawak Islamic Council (MIS) will take over the administration and management of Ma’had Tahfiz Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’kub (Mattary) from the Sarawak State Mosque Welfare Trust Board (LAKMNS).
This will include the Pusat Pengajian Al-Quran Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’kub (Patary) Complex.
The handover of Mattary from LAKMNS to MIS is one of the state government’s efforts to dignify tahfiz (memorising the Quran) institutions in Sarawak.
A brief Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signing ceremony for the handover of Mattary between LAKMNS and MIS was held today at the Patary Complex, witnessed by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, who is also LAKMNS chairman.
LAKMNS was represented by its honorary secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Bujang Mohd Nor and board member Drahman Jaladin, whereas MIS was represented by its president Datuk Misnu Taha and Sarawak State Mufti Sahibus Samahah Datuk Kipli Yassin.
Earlier this month, during Mattary’s 10th-anniversary celebration, the chief minister said the management of Mattary by MIS was also in light of the school’s high overhead expense, adding that the state government would provide funding to continue Mattary’s operation.
Mattary has been managed by LAKMNS since its establishment in 2011 including structuring administration and management plans as well as the construction of the Patary Complex costing RM22.81 million, which is where Mattary operates.
The 20.8-acre complex provides 18 classes and rooms for teaching and learning (PdPc) facilities.
Meanwhile, Tadika Tahfiz Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’kub (Tattary) will remain under the management of LAKMNS.
Tattary is located at the lower level of Masjid Jamek Negeri Sarawak and has operated for 11 years with an average intake of 275 students at any one time.
Tattary students currently contribute to the highest percentage of Primary 1 student intake in Mattary.
Also present were Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs and DBKU) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Law, State-Federal Relationship and Project Monitoring) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali and LAKMNS chief executive officer Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai.
